The best way to combat illegal migration is to set up a regular immigration framework and not a “Fortress Europe”, according to Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Greek commissioner-designate for migration and home affairs. EURACTIV Greece reports.

The former Greek defence minister appeared before the Parliament’s Civil Liberties and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) on Tuesday (30 September).

Avramopoulos surprised socialist and left-wing MEPs in the audience by toning down his conservative rhetoric, mentioning many times that the protection of fundamental and human rights was a top priority.

The former mayor of Athens made clear that he was against “Fortress Europe”, while insisting that the EU’s external borders must be policed effectively.

“The answer [to the current challenges] is definitely not Fortress Europe,” he told MEPs. “History has proven that fortresses built for the protection from external threats ended up enslaving those they were built to protect”.

The declarations by the Greek Commissioner-designate appeared to placate MEPs who were initially sceptical of Avramamopoulos’s appointment.

Tanja Fajon, from the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) group in Parliament, said, “I welcome the commissioner-designate’s clear and loud position against Fortress Europe. Socialists and Democrats insist that building high walls around Europe or national states leads to very dangerous isolation,” she said after the hearing.

Regular immigration

The Greek commissioner-designate claimed that a legal immigration framework was needed and that EU citizens should not “fear” such a move.

Referring to the mission letter he received from Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker, Avramopoulos said one of his main tasks would be to address the shortcomings of the “Blue Card” Directive.

“The best way to combat illegal migration is creating a regular immigration framework”, he said, adding that such a policy would also help Europe address skills shortages and attract the talents it needs.

Pressure over Dublin II

Avramopoulos was repeatedly asked about the Dublin II Regulation for asylum applications and spoke in favour of reviewing “specific aspects” of it.

According to the rule, only one EU country is responsible for examining an asylum application in order to avoid asylum seekers being sent from one country to another.

But southern EU countries, including Italy, Spain and Greece, have complained that the law does not mean an equal burden-sharing as the vast majority of asylum seekers land on southern shores. They are looking for “more solidarity” from the rest of Europe.

Green MEP Ska Keller, who recently told EURACTIV Greece in an interview that the Dublin II Regulation was “unfair”, asked Avramopoulos about his intentions.

“Each country has its own needs […] and each country will determine how many [asylum seekers] it will absorb,” Avramopoulos replied, ruling out a full review of the regulation which has only “just been revised”.

Nevertheless he added that serious and careful studies should be conducted for a better burden-sharing while changing the terms of resettlement.

“I am determined to encourage member states to host more refugees from third countries. Resettlement of refugees is one of the most visible acts of generosity and solidarity toward third countries hosting large numbers of refugees,” he noted.

Reinforcing Frontex

On illegal immigration, the Greek Commissioner-designate said he will seek to expand the responsibilities of the European border agency Frontex, inviting policymakers at European and national level to create a “true European border system”.

“Frontex should be turned into a body that will save lives but simultaneously protect the borders,” Avramopoulos stressed.

He also asked the support of MEPs to promote the establishment of European Border Guard Teams to assist national authorities in policing the EU’s external borders.

“Schengen is one of the greatest achievements of European integration,” Avramopoulos said. “External borders must be policed effectively without creating a ‘Fortress Europe’,” he repeated.

He backed the integration of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen common border scheme, declaring, “I undertake the commitment that soon these countries will become a part of the Schengen area.”

Avramopoulos also backed the idea of allowing people to apply for asylum in EU delegations outside of Europe.

“In third countries where we have EU delegations, we should have an adviser on migration and asylum that could examine asylum requests on the spot,” he said, adding that he first needs to consult with his “boss” Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief.

Fight against terrorism

Avramopoulos was asked about the pan-European information sharing system of airline passengers to help combat terrorism.

Avramopoulos defended the court’s decision and highlighted the need to hasten the adoption of the EU’s data privacy regulation.

He noted that EU’s role is to help countries combat terrorist threats and especially the returning “foreign fighters” but made clear that any initiative related to sharing airline passenger rights should ensure the protection of fundamental rights.

Positions

"We expect Commissioner-Designate Avramopolous to develop a comprehensive European strategy on migration. This includes first of all the rigorous implementation of the current rules but also the strengthening of EU agencies and bodies by providing them with the necessary financial and human resources. We will be at his disposal for a constructive and open dialogue on future projects", said the EPP Group Coordinator in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, MEP Monika Hohlmeier.

"Mr Avramopoulos seems to have understood that all instruments of mass data collection have to be seen in light of the annulment of the data retention directive. However, for the future we will need a clearer commitment to review the legality of existing and future instruments, including the TFTP and PNR agreements. We should especially refrain from creating new instruments on data retention such as the proposed European PNR system which raises serious concerns in terms of data protection. Mr Avramopoulos also promised to fully incorporate the respect for fundamental rights in all measures on the fight against serious crime and terrorism. We will hold him accountable on this promise! Especially when it comes to the collection of personal data and the exchange of such information, the rights to data protection and privacy have to be respected.", noted MEP Birgit Sippel, S&D spokesperson on civil liberties, justice and home affairs.

GUE/NGL MEP Barbara Spinelli, sent a letter to all the members of the European Parliament just before the hearing of Avramopoulos, urging them to “reject” the Commissioner-designate.

She pointed out the “fence” built by the Greek government in north-eastern borders with Turkey aiming at combating illegal immigration and quoted what Avramopoulos said in a visit in Bulgaria in 2013.

“During the past years in Greece we have faced a big problem due to the vast flow of illegal immigrants. The way this issue has emerged is well-known. In fact recently, due to the developments in Syria, the situation has worsened. We had to take measures. A part of these measures has already yielded fruits. The wall at the northern part of Evros has yielded fruits. The entry of illegal immigrants in Greece by this side has almost been eliminated. Yet the problem has not been resolved since, as you know, Greece has sea borders which also are Europe’s borders. This is why Frontex has been developed. Despite all these measures, the problem still exists because it is not possible to control the entire width of our maritime borderline. […] We understand both the human and the social side of this problem, yet we have to protect our societies and borders. This is not a task for the Ministry of National Defence, we cooperate with the apposite Ministries, but this issue has preoccupied us because one of its extensions relates to our national security. Behind all these flows, there might be hiding and developing nests that reproduce violence and, I do not hesitate to say, sometimes also terrorism”.

Background

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President-elect, announced on 10 September the distribution of portfolios within his team in Brussels.

With 18 former ministers and prime ministers, the new Commission will be ‘a very political Commission, as incoming European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said presenting his new executive.

If confirmed in a Parliament vote in October, the European Commission will take office on 1 November 2014.

Timeline

29 September to 7 October: Hearings of Commissioners-designate and committee evaluation meetings; no hearings on Friday 3 October 2014 and on Monday 6 October 2014 in the morning

7 October: Extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Committee Chairs to evaluate the outcome of the hearings.

8 to 9 October: The Groups will meet on Wednesday 8 October in the afternoon and on Thursday 9 October in the morning in order to evaluate the hearings.

9 October: The Conference of Presidents meets to declare the hearings closed and finalise the evaluation

Is there evidence that the best way to combat illegal migration to the EU is to allow legal migration? The experience of the UK would seem to demonstrate the reverse. We seem to have the largest problems of illegal migrants for groups with large numbers of legal migrants. The pool of existing migrants is an encouragement to would-be illegals and is a source of practical help – information about the immigration process, fake documents, jobs, accommodation.